Stable carbon isotopes of glucose received from pine tree-rings as bioindicators of local industrial emission of CO2 in Niepołomice Forest (1950–2000)

The mass spectrometric investigations of carbon isotope composition of glucose received from α-cellulose samples derived from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in Niepo?omice Forest were the main aim of this study. The annual rings covered the time span from 1950 to 2000. α-Cellulose samples were extracted from increment cores of four representative trees, and then acid hydrolysis was performed. The number of sunshine hours, thermal and pluvial conditions of the growing season and in the preceding months had a significant effect on pine. Also non-climatic factors, most likely by industrial pollution signal, have been recorded in the isotopic composition of glucose. The relationship between climatic conditions, carbon dioxide emission and annual tree-rings carbon isotopic composition was analysed, using methods of correlation and response function, and multiple regression function.     

Stable water isotope patterns in a climate change hotspot: the isotope hydrology framework of Corsica (western Mediterranean)

The Mediterranean is regarded as a region of intense climate change. To better understand future climate change, this area has been the target of several palaeoclimate studies which also studied stable isotope proxies that are directly linked to the stable isotope composition of water, such as tree rings, tooth enamel or speleothems. For such work, it is also essential to establish an isotope hydrology framework of the region of interest. Surface waters from streams and lakes as well as groundwater from springs on the island of Corsica were sampled between 2003 and 2009 for their oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions. Isotope values from lake waters were enriched in heavier isotopes and define a local evaporation line (LEL). On the other hand, stream and spring waters reflect the isotope composition of local precipitation in the catchment. The intersection of the LEL and the linear fit of the spring and stream waters reflect the mean isotope composition of the annual precipitation (δ_P) with values of?8.6(±0.2) ‰ for δ¹⁸O and?58(±2) ‰ for δ²H. This value is also a good indicator of the average isotope composition of the local groundwater in the island. Surface water samples reflect the altitude isotope effect with a value of?0.17(±0.02) ‰ per 100 m elevation for oxygen isotopes. At Vizzavona Pass in central Corsica, water samples from two catchments within a lateral distance of only a few hundred metres showed unexpected but systematic differences in their stable isotope composition. At this specific location, the direction of exposure seems to be an important factor. The differences were likely caused by isotopic enrichment during recharge in warm weather conditions in south-exposed valley flanks compared to the opposite, north-exposed valley flanks.     

Stable carbon isotopic composition of tree rings from a pine tree from Augustów Wilderness, Poland, as a temperature and local environment conditions indicator

Tree rings can be used as archives of climatic and environmental data with annual resolution. Tree rings widths, maximum late wood density and other parameters as stable composition in tree rings can be used for the reconstruction of past climatic and environmental changes. Stable carbon isotope ratios in tree rings may provide valuable information on past climatic conditions. 13C/12C ratios of plant organic matter can reflect corresponding 13C/12C ratio of atmospheric CO2 during formation of the rings. Investigations of isotopic carbon composition in tree rings from in the ecologically clean the Augustów Wilderness region in the north-eastern part of Poland (22 degrees 58'E, 53 degrees 51'N) (nowadays a sanctuary) were undertaken. Series of delta13C in alpha-cellulose and in wholewood were acquired. Those measurements constituted a part of more complex investigations of carbon isotope composition in tree rings including the measurements of radiocarbon concentration and tree ring widths. This article presents preliminary results. It is argued that contrary to the tree ring widths and delta13C in wholewood that do not reveal significant correlation with temperature, the variation of delta13C in the latewood alpha-cellulose is correlated with combined July and August temperatures.     

Influence of the balance of the intertropical front on seasonal variations of the isotopic composition in rainfall at Kisiba Masoko (Rungwe Volcanic Province,SW, Tanzania)

Tropical rainfall isotopic composition results from complex processes. The climatological and environmental variability in East Africa increases this complexity. Long rainfall isotope datasets are needed to fill the lack of observations in this region. At Kisiba Masoko, Tanzania, rainfall and rain isotopic composition have been monitored during 6 years. Mean year profiles allow to analyse the seasonal variations. The mean annual rainfall is 2099?mm with a rain-weighted mean composition of ?3.2?‰ for δ¹⁸O and ?11.7?‰ for δ²H. The results are consistent with available data although they present their own specificity. Thus, if the local meteoric water line is δ²H?=?8.6 δ¹⁸O?+?14.8, two seasonal lines are observed. The seasonality of the isotopic composition in rain and deuterium excess has been compared with precipitating air masses backtracking trajectories to characterize a simple scheme of vapour histories. The three major oceanic sources have two moisture signatures with their own trajectory histories: one originated from the tropical Indian Ocean at the beginning of the rainy season and one from the Austral Ocean at its end. The presented isotopic seasonality depends on the balance of the intertropical front and provides a useful dataset to improve the knowledge about local processes.     

Stable carbon isotopic composition of tree rings from a pine tree from Augustów Wilderness,Poland, as a temperature and local environment conditions indicator

Tree rings can be used as archives of climatic and environmental data with annual resolution. Tree rings widths, maximum late wood density and other parameters as stable composition in tree rings can be used for the reconstruction of past climatic and environmental changes. Stable carbon isotope ratios in tree rings may provide valuable information on past climatic conditions. ¹³C/¹²C ratios of plant organic matter can reflect corresponding ¹³C/¹²C ratio of atmospheric CO₂ during formation of the rings. Investigations of isotopic carbon composition in tree rings from in the ecologically clean the Augustów Wilderness region in the north-eastern part of Poland (22°58′E, 53°51′N) (nowadays a sanctuary) were undertaken. Series of δ¹³C in α-cellulose and in wholewood were acquired. Those measurements constituted a part of more complex investigations of carbon isotope composition in tree rings including the measurements of radiocarbon concentration and tree ring widths. This article presents preliminary results. It is argued that contrary to the tree ring widths and δ¹³C in wholewood that do not reveal significant correlation with temperature, the variation of δ¹³C in the latewood α-cellulose is correlated with combined July and August temperatures.     

Studying variations in the elemental composition of annual layers in microsections of lake teletskoye sediments by means of scanning X-ray fluorescent microanalysis using synchrotron radiation

SR scanning XRF is used to analyze the annual elemental layers of bottom sediments from Lake Teletskoye. Scanning is conducted with a pitch of 0.1 mm at energies of 16, 24, and 38 keV. The content of more than 15 elements are determined: K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Cd, Sn, I, and Ba (range of concentrations, 0.005–10%). A cross section containing (1) the upper part of an underlying layer, (2) the total annual layer, (3) one more complete layer, and (4) the lower part of an overlapping layer is measured. Geochemical indicators reflecting the rhythm of annual precipitation are found.     

平流层中部垂直运动年循环异常的模拟研究

利用NCAR提供的包含化学、辐射、动力相互作用的二维模式(SOCRATES)进行模拟试验，进一步探讨年循环年际异常的可能成因.模拟结果的分析表明臭氧高值中心相对于赤道准两年移动是年循环的年际异常的一个重要原因.当臭氧高值区离开赤道偏向夏半球时，夏半球的平流层中部将吸收更多的太阳短波辐射，而冬半球的则相反，因此更大的短波加热率将增大夏半球平流层中部的上升运动，导致年循环的增强；相反地，臭氧高值中心接近赤道时则导致了相对较弱的年循环. 关键词： 臭氧 甲烷 年循环 准两年变率     

Long-Term Forecasting of Solar Activity Indices Using Neural Networks

Using artificial neural networks (ANN), we study the possibility for long-term forecasting of the annual mean Wolf numbers and the monthly average solar radiation flux at 2800 MHz. A feedback ANN with error backpropagation was designed and implemented for this purpose. The software allows one to vary the number of input parameters and neurons and the values of the training parameters. The forecast error is calculated and the actual data are graphically compared to the predicted ones. The annual Wolf number was forecasted directly one year ahead using an auxiliary training (warming-up) of the ANN by the previous 18 values of the annual Wolf number entering the training sequence. The prediction efficiency was 92%. Adding the coronal index and the annual solar-radiation flux (i.e., the SF index) to the input parameters leads to some improvement of the forecast. The iterative long-term forecast of the annual Wolf number for 1986-2000 yielded an efficiency of 71%. Using the direct and iterative techniques, the annual Wolf number was forecasted for the rest of the 23rd and the beginning of the 24th cycles (2000-2010).     

近红外光谱技术快速预测泡桐活立木年轮密度

应用近红外光谱分析技术主要对兰考泡桐活立木年轮密度进行了研究。取样时采用无损的方式,即不伐木,只从样木胸径处钻取直径为5 mm的木芯;用近红外光谱仪采用自动进级式采集样品光谱,波谱范围为350～2 500 nm;密度值采用水银体积仪测量;校正模型和预测模型建立与分析采用偏最小二乘和完全交互验证法。研究结果表明,中径级和大径级泡桐所选年轮数与近红外光谱值之间均存在很好的相关关系,预测模型相关系数分别达0.88和0.91;中径极的泡桐年轮密度与近红外光谱的校正模型和预测模型相关系数分别达到0.90和0.83,校正标准误差(SEC)和预测标准误差(SEP)分别为0.012和0.016。由此可见,该法可简单、快速、无损的预测中径级即接近采伐龄泡桐活立木的年轮密度。     

Study of indoor radon and thoron progeny levels in surrounding areas of Nalbari, Assam, India

With the growing understanding of the role of radon and its daughter products as major sources of radiation exposure, the importance of large number of estimation of radon concentration in various parts of the country is realized. Inhalation of radon, thoron and their decay products is the major source of the total radioactive dose received by the human population from natural radiation. The indoor radon and thoron progeny levels in Nalbari area of Assam are studied by using the LR-115 (type II) Solid State Nuclear Track Detector in Plastic Twin Chamber dosimeter. Radon and thoron progeny levels in different types of dwellings for one full calendar year are presented in this paper. For Assam Type (A.T.) houses, indoor radon progeny concentrations vary from 0.17 to 0.64 mWL with an annual geometric mean of 0.27 mWL and that for Reinforced Cement Concrete (R.C.C.) houses vary from 0.22 mWL to 0.60 mWL with the annual geometric mean of 0.37 mWL. The thoron progeny levels in A.T. houses also vary from 0.01 to of 0.05 mWL with an annual geometric mean of 0.02 mWL and that for R.C.C. houses vary from 0.02 to 0.08 mWL with the annual geometric mean of 0.04 mWL.      

Regional and temporal variability of the isotope composition (O, S) of atmospheric sulphate in the region of Freiberg, Germany, and consequences for dissolved sulphate in groundwater and river water

The isotope composition of dissolved sulphate and strontium in atmospheric deposition, groundwater, mine water and river water in the region of Freiberg was investigated to better understand the fate of these components in the regional and global water cycle. Most of the isotope variations of dissolved sulphates in atmospheric deposition from three locations sampled bi- or tri-monthly can be explained by fractionation processes leading to lower [Formula: see text] (of about 2-3‰) and higher [Formula: see text] (of about 8-10‰) values in summer compared with the winter period. These samples showed a negative correlation between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] values and a weak positive correlation between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] values. They reflect the sulphate formed by aqueous oxidation from long-range transport in clouds. However, these isotope variations were superimposed by changes of the dominating atmospheric sulphate source. At two of the sampling points, large variations of mean annual [Formula: see text] values from atmospheric bulk deposition were recorded. From 2008 to 2009, the mean annual [Formula: see text] value increased by about 5‰; and decreased by about 4‰ from 2009 to 2010. A change in the dominating sulphate source or oxidation pathways of SO(2) in the atmosphere is proposed to cause these shifts. No changes were found in corresponding [Formula: see text] values. Groundwater, river water and some mine waters (where groundwater was the dominating sulphate source) also showed temporal shifts in their [Formula: see text] values corresponding to those of bulk atmospheric deposition, albeit to a lower degree. The mean transit time of atmospheric sulphur through the soil into the groundwater and river water was less than a year and therefore much shorter than previously suggested. Mining activities of about 800 years in the Freiberg region may have led to large subsurface areas with an enhanced groundwater flow along fractures and mined-refilled ore lodes which may shorten transit times of sulphate from precipitation through groundwater into river water.     

Determination of the health hazards due to background radiation sources in the city of Adapazari, Northwestern Turkey

Human body is exposed to ionising radiations both internally and externally by mainly high-energy cosmic ray particles incident on the earth's atmosphere and radioactive nuclides that originated in the earth's crust. The main objective of this study is to assess the health hazards due to environmental radiation sources in the city of Adapazari, one of the most important industrial cities of the country, Northwestern Turkey. For this purpose, natural radiation sources, external terrestrial radiations, cosmic radiations, and inhalation exposures have been investigated. The annual average external terrestrial radiation doses were determined as 0.08 and 0.35 mSv at outdoor and indoor atmospheres, respectively. The annual average cosmic radiation doses were found to be 0.08 and 0.05 mSv for directly ionising photon components and neutron components, respectively. The annual average inhalation exposure doses due to radon and thoron were obtained as 1.42 and 0.19 mSv, respectively, in the region. The annual average effective dose due to natural radiation sources was determined as a total of 2.35 mSv with the predetermined ingestion radiation dose. The lifetime cancer risk due to the background ionising radiations has been determined as 0.9×10(-2) for the residents of the Adapazari city, with the average lifespan of 70 years. The results of the effective doses due to background radiation sources in the region and the worldwide averages were discussed.     

New results from DAMA/LIBRA

DAMA/LIBRA is running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the I.N.F.N. Here the results obtained with a further exposure of 0.34 ton × yr are presented. They refer to two further annual cycles collected one before and one after the first DAMA/LIBRA upgrade occurred on September/October 2008. The cumulative exposure with those previously released by the former DAMA/NaI and by DAMA/LIBRA is now 1.17 ton × yr, corresponding to 13 annual cycles. The data further confirm the previous positive results obtained investigating the presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo by means of the model independent Dark Matter annual modulation signature; the confidence level is now 8.9 σ for the cumulative exposure. In particular, with the cumulative exposure the modulation amplitude of the single-hit events in the (2–6) keV energy interval measured in NaI(Tl) target is (0.0116±0.0013) cpd/kg/keV; the measured phase is (146±7) days and the measured period is (0.999±0.002) yr, values well in agreement with those expected for the DM particles.     

On a further search for a yearly modulation of the rate in particle Dark Matter direct search

The results achieved with a statistics of 14962 kg·day, collected with the large mass highly radiopure DAMA NaI(Tl) set-up, are described and investigated in terms of WIMP annual modulation signature. A maximum likelihood analysis of these data, combined with the statistics of 4549 kg·day previously published (total statistics of 19511 kg·day), favours the hypothesis of presence of an annual modulation at 99.6% C.L.     

The main properties and peculiarities of the Earth’s motion relative to the center of mass

The methods of theoretical and celestial mechanics and mathematical statistics have been used to prove that the Earth’s motion relative to the center of mass, the polar wobble, in the principal approximation is a combination of two circumferences with a slow trend in the mean position corresponding to the annual and Chandler components. It has been established that the parameters (amplitude and phase shift) of the annual wobble are stable, while those of the Chandler component are less stable and undergo significant variations over the observed time intervals. It has been proven that the behavior of these polar motion parameters is attributable to the gravitational-tidal mechanisms of their excitation.     

On the investigation of possible systematics in WIMP annual modulation search

An investigation of the WIMP annual modulation signature is in progress at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the I.N.F.N. by means of the kg NaI(Tl) DAMA set-up; the results obtained during four annual cycles have already been published. In this paper we will further address in some details the main arguments, which have allowed us to exclude known systematic effects as a possible source of the annual modulation observed in the rate at very low energy. In particular, the (more recently released) data of the DAMA/NaI-3 and DAMA/NaI-4 running periods are considered as quantitative examples. Received: 26 September 2000 / Published online: 27 November 2000     

Differential response of two Pinus spp. to avian nitrogen input as revealed by nitrogen isotope analysis for tree rings

Temporal variations in N concentration and δ(15)N value of annual tree rings (1 year of time resolution) of two Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) and three Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) trees under current breeding activity of the Great Cormorant (Pharacrocorax carbo) and the Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris), respectively, in central and northeastern Japan were studied. Both species from control sites where no avian input occurs show negative values (δ(15)N = around -4 ‰ to -2 ‰) which are common among higher plants growing under high rainfall regimes. The δ(15)N values of P. densiflora show uniformly positive values several years before and after the breeding event, indicating N translocation that moved the absorbed N of a given growth year to tree rings of the previous year while a clear historical value of soil N dynamics was kept intact in the annual rings of P. thunbergii. Long-term N trends inferred from tree rings must take into account tree species with limited translocation rates that can retain actual N annual acquisition.     

Particle dark matter in the galactic halo

The presence of Dark Matter (DM) particles in the galactic halo can be unambiguously pointed out in a model-independent way by exploiting the DM annual modulation signature with an apparatus of specific features placed deep underground. At present DAMA/LIBRA is running at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the I.N.F.N. and has presented so far the results obtained with the data collected in the first six annual cycles (exposure 0.87 ton × yr). When including the exposure of the former DAMA/NaI experiment (0.29 ton × yr), the total exposure is 1.17 ton × yr for 13 annual cycles, a value order of magnitude larger than those typically released in the field. These DAMA/LIBRA data have further confirmed the model-independent evidence of the presence of Dark Matter particles in the galactic halo on the basis of the exploited DM signature (8.9 σ C.L. for the cumulative exposure).     

Radon survey and soil gamma doses in primary schools of Batman,Turkey

A survey was conducted to evaluate levels of indoor radon and gamma doses in 42 primary schools located in Batman, southeastern Anatolia, Turkey. Indoor radon measurements were carried out using CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detector-based radon dosimeters. The overall mean annual ²²²Rn activity in the surveyed area was found to be 49 Bq m^?3 (equivalent to an annual effective dose of 0.25 mSv). However, in one of the districts (Besiri) the maximum radon value turned out to be 307 Bq m^?3. The estimated annual effective doses are less than the recommended action level (3–10 mSv). It is found that the radon concentration decreases with increasing floor number. The concentrations of natural and artificial radioisotopes were determined using gamma-ray spectroscopy for soil samples collected in close vicinity of the studied schools. The mean gamma activity concentrations in the soil samples were 31, 25, 329 and 12 Bq kg^?1 for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs, respectively. The radiological parameters such as the absorbed dose rate in air and the annual effective dose equivalent were calculated. These radiological parameters were evaluated and compared with the internationally recommended values.     

Comparison of the variations in the intensity of global electromagnetic resonance and ground surface temperature

We compare the dynamics of the intensity of the global electromagnetic (Schumann) resonance monitored in Japan with the global ground surface temperature (GST) over the period from November 1998 to May 2002. It is shown that the Schumann resonance (SR) intensity varies coherently with the ground surface temperature at mid-latitudes: the relevant cross-correlation coefficient exceeds 0.8. The linear correlation of data decreases with a decreasing latitude interval. We applied the principal component analysis (PCA) to distinguish inter-annual trends (anomalies) in the records from the periodic annual and semi-annual variations. The annual component of the SR intensity behaves similarly to the mid-latitude GST, while the inter-annual variations in the electromagnetic data are similar to those of the GST in the tropics. The regression analysis allowed us to obtain the analytical expressions relating the SR intensity with both the mid-latitude and low-latitude GST. Application of these equations allowed us to retrieve the observed SR pattern from the ground surface temperature and to “reconstruct” the variations in the tropical GST from recorded SR intensity. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 51, No. 12, pp. 1035–1050, December 2008.